Spare me a sign of how good a deal it was Greg
PAUL HARTLEY reckons Greg Stewart is one of his best signings – as he hopes the striker doesn’t prove it come Saturday.
The Cove Rangers boss is likely to face him going to Kilmarnock in the last 16 of the Scottish Cup.
Hartley gave Stewart his big break when he was Dundee manager in 2014.
It is fair to say the 33-year-old’s career hasn’t looked back with spells at Birmingham, Rangers, loan moves to Aberdeen and Killie, plus successful stints in India with Jamshedpur and Mumbai City before he returned for a second stint at Rugby Park last month.
Hartley said: “I got Greg from Cowdenbeath for free.
“We got close to £1million for him and Kane Hemmings.
“Greg’s done brilliantly. Between him and Scott Bain, they have been my two best signings.
“Greg has been my best outfield signing and I’ve signed a fair few!
“He has so much quality and he is also a brilliant boy. I spoke to him last week after the draw.
“He has had a top career and I am delighted for him. He is one of those boys who didn’t come into full-time football until he was 24 but look where he’s been since.
“I am really pleased for him and looking forward to seeing him.”
Cove beat Brora Rangers in the last round and Hartley knows his League One outfit will be huge underdogs at Rugby Park.
He added: “Kilmarnock have real quality. The reality is you can look at their front players and Greg might not even start.
“They have real options with Kyle Vassell, Marley Watkins, Kevin van Veen and Greg. It is not a surprise to see them doing as well as they are this season.”